Arendt’s Theory Of "Evil" And The Study Of Evil In World War Ⅱ Film Making

Hannah Arendt’s theory of "evil" was put forward in view of the suffering of the Jews in the Second World War,which was a deep reflection on a series of moral and ethical issues.Since Arendt herself denied that she had invented a theory of evil,the theory of evil we use here is not a systematic concept,but a general term that includes her views on evil.Arendt’s theory of "evil" should be analyzed from two dimensions.One is to discuss the foundation of its generation,development and maturity in the ethical category of the real society.The first is to discuss Arendt’s theory of "evil" from the perspective of aesthetics inside literature and art,including its aesthetic connotation that violates its original intention and its influence on literature and art.This paper explores the change of "evil" in Arendt’s ideological system by expanding the evolution path from "fundamental evil" to "commonplace evil" and tracing the influence of Augustine,Socrates and Kant on Arendt as well as the impact of Eichmann’s political event on her."The banality of evil" is Hannah Arendt’s outstanding contribution to the theory of "evil".She interprets Eichmann as a typical "evil".In Arendt’s view,Eichmann’s mind was occupied by the codes of conduct and moral standards preached by the Nazis.Eichmann’s lack of critical thinking ability was a manifestation of "thoughtlessness",which revealed the other side of "evil"--"mediocrity".Such "mediocrity" will lead to "evil" without boundaries,which she attributed to the thoughtlessness of people.Arendt believed that "mediocrity evil" is closely related to the individual mind.Judgment is the most important spiritual ability of a person,and thinking and judgment have the ability to resist risks.Therefore,in the face of great disasters,we should use the political judgment ability of the spiritual ability to think,and then restrain the "evil".At least in the "dark age",people need to have the ability of independent judgment,keep sober reflection state,that is,rely on human judgment ability to restrain the "evil".Hannah arendt believed that "evil" should not be avoided,but should be remembered,and literature is unique in remembering "evil".Arendt’s theory of "evil" has directly or indirectly influenced the creation of a generation or even several generations,involving poetry,novel,drama and other literary styles.Arendt sought political meaning from ancient Greek poetry,drama and historiography,focusing on words and actions in "story-telling".In contemporary times,as one of the mainstream art forms of "storytelling",film art should bear the corresponding responsibility in remembering the special "evil" of the 20 th century.From arendt "evil" put forward by the historical context and realistic context,this paper discusses on the connotation and development of "evil",using the method of literature and art sociology,hermeneutics of world war ii films created the "evil" of interpretation,analysis,discusses several problems of literature and art aesthetics,including the relationship between "evil" and "beauty","evil" of multiple attributes,"evil" and the relationship between the film art and literature and art against the possibility of "evil".In these four issues for clues,based on the "evil" and "beauty" in the western tradition,back augustine,Socrates and Kant and others about the basic ideas of "evil" of arendt’s theory of "evil",and then analyze arendt’s "thought suppression evil" this view,the exposition of the possibility of literature and art to think.Taking the relatively representative film art as an example,this paper discusses the correlation between Arendt’s theory of "evil" and the reappearance of "evil" in films,aiming to explore the role of literature and art in the process of human resistance to "evil".